An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings from
The Angel Academy of Art, Florence
Villa Bardini, Via Costa San Giorgio 2, Florence, Italy
May 13 to May 30, 2010

Celebrating the centenary of the birth of one of Italy's most extraordinary contemporary painters, the Angel Academy of Art, together with the Ente Cassa di Risparmio, held its exhibition Annigoni's Legacy, in the Villa Bardini Museum, Florence, from May 13 to May 30, 2010.

Born in Milan in 1910, the young Pietro Annigoni moved with his family to Florence, a city that was to become his artistic birthplace and lifelong home. It was here that, according to Bernard Berenson, another of Florence's illustrious adopted sons, he became “...the greatest painter of the 20th century.” It was here, too, that Michael John Angel, a young English painter, met Annigoni, and studied under him in the 1960s, learning from him the techniques of the old masters.

Regarded as one of today's foremost figurative painters, Michael John Angel is co-founder, with Lynne Barton, of the Angel Academy of Art. Based in Florence, this world-class school is dedicated to training professional Realist painters in the art of representational painting by combining artistic vision with empirical observation, while using the techniques passed down by master painters through the centuries. It is one of the very few institutions of its kind in the world and its maestro is considered to be one of the most inspiring and successful teachers of classical and traditional art today.

Through him, the Academy has always had a strong sense of Annigoni's artistic vision and style, and for this reason, it could not have been a more fitting partner for the Ente Cassa di Risparmio, and la Fondazione Parchi Monumentali Bardini e Peyron, as they celebrated Annigoni's life and works throughout the year.

Annigoni's Legacy was held in the Limonaia of the Villa Bardini's breathtaking gardens, and included drawings and paintings by the Angel Academy of Art's students, alumni and faculty members, as well as works by Mr Angel.

This show was sponsored by Stefano Marmugi, the President of the Administration for Florence's Historical Centre, and organised in collaboration with the l’Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze and the Foundation for the Bardini and Peyron Monumental Parks.